Dying Remotes, and other stuff....

Am I a 'cheapskate' or what? The remote for this 30-inch flat-screen TV that is being used as the monitor on here has had a problem lately - its volume control has not been responding. Fortunately, I have another almost-identical (read: Chinese) 30-inch flat-screen whose remote is still OK. But I don't like things that don't work, especially when they're too new to be junk, so I fixed it.

These are all assembled like a 'clamshell' with a sandwich construction, and they usually just snap together with an 'unsnappable' system you need to outsmart to get inside where the action is. So take a small hobby saw, like a coping saw, and make a couple of cuts on the corners at the end opposite its little 'eye'. Cut just deeply enough to allow a small opening into which you can insert a screwdriver or other thin blade, with which to pry apart the two parts of this 'clamshell'. Don't force it enough to crack anything, but do get them apart.

Then, carefully remove the circuit board, and the rubbery button sheet that sits on its side. There's probably some conductive goo on these, and it probably has spread onto parts where it isn't wanted or needed, so just use some rubbing alcohol or other solvent to clean all that off. If you haven't got any solvent, then you can wash the rubbery thing in warm water and dish-washing detergent, and dry it off well. Wipe the goo off the circuit board, because you don't need that much, especially not anywhere but on the pressure points beneath those rubbery buttons.

Now examine the edges of the two parts of the outer shell, and clean off any broken or ragged bits where you pried it apart, because it won't go together well if there's trash in its grooves. Put everything back together, with the button pad on top of the circuit board, and the circuit board back inside the bottom of the clamshell cover, probably aligned with little plastic posts. Then snap the two cover sections back together, replace the batteries, and Voila! - it's OK again.

Moving right along here, sometimes I forget how old I am.... like last night. Once again, I fell asleep with my glasses on and my wireless headphones on,
and an extra pillow behind my head. I faded away someplace during Letterman's valiant attempts at humor, and the snivelling of what's-his-name in the band. Butt-smooching is very tiring to watch, isn't it? Anyway, this is how to wake up with a kink in your neck, and smudges all over your glasses, and a burning desire to investigate the nearest bathroom quickly.

And speaking of that, if you suffer from swollen ankles, there's a pill for that.
It's called Hydrochlorothiazide, and it's why you get those burning desires to visit the nearest bathroom - but you'll have nice trim ankles when you arrive.
So talk to your pharmacist or that local golf pro who thinks he's a doctor....and tell him or her Oldest Living Blogger sent you.